Sewing-machine shuttle



(ModeL) J. HOEFLER.

SEWING MACHINE SHUTTLE Patented Apr. 25, 1882.

PEIERS. Photouthognpher, Washlnglcn, o a

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HOEFLER, OF ILION, NEW YORK.

SEWING-MACHINE SHUTTLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 256,896, dated April 25, 1882.

Application filed December 9, i881. (Model) To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, JOHN HOEFLER, of [lion, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Sewing-Machine Shuttles, of which the followin g is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to that class of tubular or bored shuttles in which the bobbin isinserted through the rear end and retained in place by means of a hinged latch or cap.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of a pivoted spring which serves the twofold purpose of securing the latch or cap in a closed position and of effecting the required tension of the thread.

The invention also consists in the peculiar manner of locking said pivoted spring in its operative position, and in the construction and arrangement of an adjustable device by means of which the spring is retained in position and the tension varied at will.

It also consists in the peculiar manner of constructing the tension spring to facilitate the introduction of the thread; also, in an improved method of forming the hinge-joint by which the latch is connected to the body.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my shuttle as it appears when the end is open to receive the bobbin. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central cross-section of the shuttle with the parts in an operative position and the bobbin in place. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the adjustable catch or detent by which the pivoted spring is secured. Figs. 4 and 5 are views illustrating the manner in which the thread is inserted through the tension-spring. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views, illustrating the manner of constructing the hinged joint by which the latch is united to the body.

A represents the body of the shuttle, preferably constructed, as usual, of cylindrical or substantially cylindrical form in cross-section,with a cylindrical hole or opening formed from its heel inward to admit the bobbin B.

0 represents a transverse latch or cap, hinged to the rear end of the shuttle and closing over or across the opening therein to prevent the escape of the bobbin.

1) represents a long elastic spring, pivoted to the outside of the body at the point a, and provided at the rear end with an inwardlyt-urned lip, 1), adapted to engage over the free end of the latch O and hold the same in position, the locking and unlocking of the latch being effected by turning the spring upon its pivot. If preferred, the lip b or the end of the latch may be beveled in order to permit the latch to be closed when the springis in a position to lock the same; but this is not considered desirable in ordinary cases.

For the purpose of looking the spring I) in its closed position against the body of the shuttle, its forward end is bent or shouldered downward, as shown at d, to swing within a recess formed in the side of the shuttle beneath the end of the latch or detent E. The latch E consists, as clearly represented in Fig. 3, of a small flat top plate having formed thereon, in one piece therewith, two downwardlycurved spring-arms,f, which are seated upon the bottom of a recess formed in the shuttle, and which serve as a means of giving springsupport to the plate.

The body of the shuttle is provided with a recess, within which the detent is seated, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a screw, F, being inserted through the detent into the shuttle, as represented in Figs. 1 and 2, for the purpose of holding and adjusting the same. The upper end of the detent, overhanging the slot into which the end of spring D closes, is provided on the under side with a stud or projection, g, which engages in a corresponding notch in the end of spring D, thereby holding the spring securely in place. The end of the spring D is given a slight upward curvature, so that in forcing it home to its seat it requires to be depressed beneath the end of the detent E, in consequence of which it engages firmly therewith.

In making use of the shuttle the thread is passed from the bobbin through the usual openin gin the side of the body, and thence between the spring D and the shuttle-body, the spring serving to apply a pressure and friction sufficient to produce the required tension.

The spring may be constructed in any suitable manner toreceive the thread; butitis preferred, as shown in the drawings, to form a V- shaped slot, 0, therein, thus leaving an intermediate point or finger, h, the end of which is bent downward to enter a transverse notch, 1, formed in the body.

In order to pass the thread through the spring it is only necessary to pass it outward through the usual slot in the side of the shuttle and lay it across the body in or in advance of the transverse groove, so that upon closing the tension-spring to its place it will cover the thread, as shown in Fig. 4. Upon drawing on the thread it will at once ride upward in the slot 0 over the lip or tongue h, as shown in Fig. 5. The rear ends of the slot 0 are preferably enlarged, as shown in the drawings, the better to retain the thread in place 3 but this is not a necessity.

It will be seen that by the above construction the insertion of the thread is secured quickly, with certainty, and without the usual trouble of passing through small eyes or openings.

By turning the screw F, and thereby depressing the detent E, the pressure of the spring D upon the thread may be increased or diminished in such manner as to vary the tension as may be required. The spring-arms of the detent serve not only to sustain the same in position and to elevate it as the screw is loosened, but also to force the upper part of the plate constantly against the head of the screw, whereby the screw is prevented from jarring loose and varying the tension of the thread when the machine is in action.

It is obvious that instead of constructing the spring-arms in one piece with the upper plate of the detent a separate spiral spring or other form of spring may be used beneath the top plate.

In order to avoid the difliculties which have hitherto been encountered in securely hinging the latch to the thin body of the shuttle, I adopt the plan represented in Figs. 6 and 7, the end of the body being adapted to receive the latch. I form by a milling-tool or otherwise a transverse groove, 70, in the outside of the body, in the proper position to receive the hinge-pin or pintle. This pin, being inserted through the end oi'thelatch, is then seated in the notch or groove and secured therein by means of solder, the solder being applied to fill the groove and finish flush with the outer surface of the body.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination ofthe shuttle-body and its swinging latch, the spring pivoted to the body and engaging with the latch, and the detent engaging with and holding the spring.

2. In combination with the shuttle-body and the hinged latch or cap at its base, the centrally-pivoted spring, engagiegat one end with the latch and at the opposite end with a retaining-lip or detent.

3. The combination of the shuttle-body A, latch G, pivoted spring D, and detent E.

4. In combination with the shuttle-body, the swinging tension-spring D and the adjustable detent E, serving the twofold purpose of retaining the spring in position and regulating the pressure upon the thread.

5. In combination with the swinging spring, the spring-supported detent E and adj ustingscrew I 6. In a shuttle, the latch or detent E, havingthe spring-arms formed in one piece therewith.

7. In combination with the shuttle-body, the tension-spring provided with the inwardlyturned lip h, substantially as shown and described.

8. In a shuttle, the tension-spring provided with the V-shaped slit or opening therein to receive the thread.

9. The shuttle-body provided with the external transverse groove, in combination with the latch, the hinge-pin for the latch, seated in the groove, and the soft metal inserted, as shown, to secure the pin in place. I

10. In a shuttle, thelatch-sustaining pin secured in an external groove in the body.

JOHN HOEFLER. Witnesses:

GEo. O. RASBACI-I, FRED. H. BENNETT. 

